World Cup Expansion: DFB President Neuendorf Speaks Out Against 64 Teams
Football Association CEO Neuendorf firmly disagrees with a 64-team World Cup proposal. - Football Association Head Neuendorf firmly opposes World Cup expansion to 64 teams.
Bernd Neuendorf, president of the German Football Association (DFB), has vehemently opposed the idea of expanding the World Cup participant field to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament. This stand comes shortly before the FIFA Council meeting, where the proposal to increase the tournament size from 48 teams could be under discussion.
"The tournament would not benefit from this proposal," Neuendorf, who is a part of the FIFA Council, told the German Press Agency. The unanticipated suggestion, proposed by Ignacio Alonso in March, aims to extend the tournament from the upcoming 48-team format.
FIFA Council Caught Unawares
The president of the Uruguayan football association, Alonso, took his colleagues by surprise with his initiative. As per FIFA statutes, the Council, headed by FIFA president Gianni Infantino, must address all submissions from its members. The FIFA Congress, the general assembly of all national football associations, will convene in Asunción, Paraguay, next Thursday. The Council meeting serves as preparation for the general assembly.
The 2026 World Cup in the USA, Canada, and Mexico will debut with 48 teams instead of the previous 32. For 2030, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco are the hosts, with the opening matches scheduled for Uruguay, Paraguay, and Argentina. Alonso appears to envision additional games in his home country.
Potential Impacts on Leagues
European rejection of this idea has already become evident, as stated by Neuendorf now. "Such a decision would have severe repercussions for the national leagues, as the tournament phase would undoubtedly be prolonged," the 63-year-old DFB president warned. "It would also represent a massive physical burden on the players, which I deem irresponsible. I believe the proposal is unfeasible from a sporting and organizational perspective, and I will not back it."
- Bernd Neuendorf
- DFB
- FIFA
- Football
- President
- Participant field
- Expansion
- Frankfurt am Main
- Paraguay
- World Cup
- German Press Agency
Behind the Scenes:
The proposal to expand the men's FIFA World Cup to 64 teams for the 2030 edition has faced significant backlash from key football stakeholders. Concacaf President Victor Montagliani, UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin, and other officials have publicly opposed the idea of expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams due to concerns regarding the impact on the tournament's quality and the broader football ecosystem—including national teams, club competitions, leagues, and players[1]. Montagliani explicitly stated that expanding beyond 48 teams at this point is not an appropriate move, as the 48-team format for 2026 has not even begun yet[1].
As part of this overall opposition, DFB President Bernd Neuendorf has expressed his reservations against the 64-team expansion, joining forces with other European and North American leaders in cautioning against such a significant increase[1]. Further details about Neuendorf's views on the matter are not publicly available, but his opposition fits into the broader dissent from UEFA and other confederations against the large-scale expansion plan. With the proposed 64-team World Cup for 2030, it remains uncertain and unlikely to proceed at this time due to strong opposition, including from DFB President Bernd Neuendorf[1][2][3]. FIFA and its ruling council must still deliberate further before any such expansion can be confirmed.
- Bernd Neuendorf, president of the DFB, has expressed opposition to extending the World Cup participant field to 64 teams for the 2030 tournament, a proposal that might be discussed during the upcoming FIFA Council meeting.
- As part of a broader opposition, Neuendorf's stance aligns with European and North American leaders who caution against a significant increase in the number of World Cup teams.
- Expanding the tournament to 64 teams could have severe repercussions for national leagues, as the tournament phase would be prolonged, and it would also be a massive physical burden on the players, according to Neuendorf.
- The European rejection of expanding the men's World Cup to 64 teams has become evident, especially amid concerns about the tournament's quality and the broader football ecosystem.
